Catch and escapement-gear.



R I T T E R T.

CATCH AND ESGAPEMBNT GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED 16, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

.NO MODEL.

No. 774,198. PATENTED NOV. 8 1904. J. BETTIE.

CATCH AND ESCAPEMENT GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED I'EB.16,.1903.

N0 MODEL. 7 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 No. 774,198. PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904.

J. BETTIE. GATGH AND BSGAPEMENT GEAR.

APPLIUATION FILED FEB. 16, 1903. N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

lQ Z/wssus.

Patented November 8, 1904.

PATENT OFETCE.

JAMES BETTIE, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

CATCH AND ESCAPEMENT-GEAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 774,198, dated November 8, 1904. Application filed February 16, 1908. Serial No. 1%,679. (N0 model.)

10 all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES RETTIE, engineer, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 191 (Jamberwell road, London, England, have invented a new or Improved Catch and Escapement-Gear, of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists of a series of toothed wheels, shafting, bearings, supports, and connections designed and constructed to act in the manner and for the purpose of ratchetgearing without the detrimental slip and uncertainty of action in all gears of that description constructed on the hitherto-recognized principles of such mechanism. It is intended to apply generally to all classes of machinery for which a smooth-working continuouslygeared catch-and-escape movement is a desideratum.

The main principles of the above can be carried out in various forms, having suitably-different constructive and positional arrangements to meet requirements in its adaptation to machines of dissimilar utility, and in order to demonstrate more effectually the essential points which constitute my invention and the manner of its action I have herewith furnished a set of drawings which illustrate some of the modes of adjustment which I adopt in its practical application to purposes for which it is designed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a form of adjustment of three of the main factors in my invention, which are denoted throughout the drawings by letters A, B, and O, A being a screw-toothed pinion made on or fitted on to ashaft L, on which B, a double-thread worm, is formed with a pitch the same as the screw-teeth on the pinion A, but out of run with them to the extent of about the thickness of the worm-thread. C is a skew-toothed spur-wheel or circular rack with which the screw pinion and worm gear in the manner shown. The spaces between the teeth on the wheel 0 and those which form the channels between the Worm-threads are about twice as wide as the teeth are thick.

Fig. 2 gives a face view of the skew-toothed spur-wheel C, mounted on a shaft D, by which motion given to the wheel it carries is conveyed to the point of its utility.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a bracket or standard having a hole 12 bored in it to receive and act as bearing to the shaft D, Fig. 2. It also provides two projecting lugs FF,

L, Fig. 5, and a boss E, which carries astud H, on which the spur-pinion J, Figs. 9 and 10, is to operate.

Fig. 4 is a side view of Fig. 3 and its projections.

Fig. 5 represents a screw-toothed pinion, shaft, and worm similar to that shown in Fig. 1, with the worm-threads B running reversely and the screw-pinion A having a parallel in lieu of a conical outer diameter.

Fig. 6 shows a collar and pin K and K, which are formed to fit on the pierced end 13 of the worm-shaft L, Fig. 5, to secure it in its intended working position.

Fig. 7 presents a side view, and Fig. 8 a front view, of a rocking lever G, in which a hole 14 is bored to fit the shaft D, Fig. 2, on which the said lever is intended to work. That portion of the lever Gr immediately above the hole 14 is formed into a cradle to carry the shaft L, Fig. l, and the pinion A and the worm B combined with it by means of a pair of lugs Gr G Fig. 7, which are bored at the points indicated by dotted lines 15 and 16, Fig. 8, to receive it. These lugs are connected by a bridge 17, on which the handlebar 18 is either made or fitted.

Figs. 9 and 10 give a side and face view of a spur-pinion J, which is intended to work on the stud H, Fig. 3.

Fig. 11 shows an apparatus composed of the parts hereinabove described, and shown in Figs. 1 to 10, inclusive. It is designed specially to illustrate the manner in-which my invention can be utilized as an auxiliary in transmitting motion and retaining gathered tension or accumulated force.

Fig. 12 is. a piece of mechanism designed to illustrate the manner in which I apply a releasing action to either the propelling or retaining portions of the apparatus shown in Fig. 11.

which are intended to carry the worm-shaft" wines Fig. 15 shows oneof the many waysin which wheel cannot cause the pinion A to rotate 65 the positional arrangement can be varied and 1 without the assistance of the worm B, and constructive changes made in the parts A, B, l that is rendered inoperative by the spacial disandCof myinventionwithoutdeparting from tances which intervene between its threads the principle thereof. and the spur-teeth in advance of them. Thus Fig. 14 illustrates the manner in which my a backward-and-forward movement of the le- 7 invention (in amodified form)can be employed 1 ver G gives motion to the wheel C and shaft as an instantaneous catch-and-release gear in Din the direction of the arrow Z. Now when connection with hoisting and lowering appamotion is given to the wheel Gin the manner I ratus and such like machinery. l described above the movement is transmitted Fig. is a sectional view of the loop-frame K through the spur-pinion J to the worm B and 7 5 E, Fig. 14:, in which the gear which operates shaft L, and the screw-pinion A thus rotated between the spur-wheel C and beveled pinion allows a free travel to the wheel C in the di- WV in the same figure is shown. rection of the arrow Z, but prevents any back I5 Referring to Fig. 1, it will be noticed in the movement of the same by reason of the progearing of the same that where the pinion A portional formation of the spur teeth and gears with the spur-wheel C the teeth of the worm-threads and the distances between them, former bear on the right-hand sides of the which aresimilarto thosedescribed,and shown teeth of the latter, which are numbered 1 and in Fig. 1.

20 2, and leave spaces 6 and 7 between their backs I have by preference shown the above-deand the teeth numbered 2 and 3, while the scribed mechanism as driven by hand. It 5 worm-threads 10 and 11 are shown bearing on will, however, be obvious that by detaching the left-hand sides of the spur-teeth 1 and 5, the hand-lever 18 from the cradle G and makleaving spaces 8 and 9 between themselves and ing suitable connection between the latter and 2 5 the spur-teeth 3 and 1. By the above arrangeany moving force the same result could be obment in the gearing of the combined worm tained, and, further, that by the employment 9 and screw-pinion B and A, respectively, and of two or more such apparatus on the same the spur-wheel C it will be plain that in any shaft and actuating them alternately a conmovement of wheel 0 in the direction of the stant in lieu of an intermittent motion could 3 arrow Z its teeth would strike the wormbe produced and regulated as regards speed in threads only, in which case the slanting run various ways without interfering with the 95 0f the worm B would allow it to easily rotate main principles of the invention. the combined worm and pinion and make a It will be observed that in the above-defree passage for itself through the screwscribed form of my invention no provision is teeth of the pinion A, which would rotate idly made to allow a reverse movement of the in gear during the movement; but in any atwheel (I. It can, however, be furnished with I00 tempted move of the wheel 0 in the opposite such in the manner shown in Fig. 12, in which direction its teeth would only come in conthe parts A, B, and C are geared in the same tact with the screw-teeth of the pinion A, and way as the similarly-denoted parts in Figs.

4 these would act to it as an absolute stop, be- 1 and 11; but in this case the worm-shaft L is cause they are too squarely set to permit the mounted in three bearings FF F formed on I0 5 wheel U to force the pinion A into revolution. a bracket M, which is fitted on the shaft D and The above and Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and provides the outstanding arm N. Near one 10 constitute the component parts of Fig. 11, end of the shaft L a circular groove is sunk,

4 5 which illustrates a form of my invention conin which an annular plate 20 (shown in section) structed to effect the double purpose of giving is fitted. This plate is bolted to a hand-wheel 1 I0 rotary motion to the shaft D in one direction 0, also shown in section, which is carried by and preventing similar movement of the same and operates the screwed spindle 21, (shown in the other. The movement and rest of the in position in the boss N of the arm N.) The 5 shaft D can of course be utilized in any suitscrew-pinion A is fitted on the worm-shaft L able manner and for any suitable purpose. with a feather in such manner that it will 115, In the performance of this operation the rockslide freely along it, but must turn with it ing lever Gris moved in the direction of the between the bearings F and F, where it is arrow X, when the worm-teeth 10 and 11 strike shown geared with the spur-wheel C. When the teeth 4 and 5 of the spur-wheel C (which the above parts are in the position shown, the

is held stationary by the screw-pinion A) and wheel 0 can only turn in the direction of the I 2 by them force into revolution the worm-shaft arrow Z; but by turning the hand-wheel O L and screw-pinion A, which causes the latter and movingit forward on its screwed spindle to rotate smoothly through the teeth with 21 the worm-shaft L is forced along in its 6 which it gears in the direction named; but bearings and the worm-threads made to strike when a return action of the lever is made the the spur-teeth at the other side of the spaces, 5 pinion A becomes an effective catch in the and thus cause the worm B to operate the teeth of the wheel 0 and forces it around in screw-pinion A in a backward direction and the direction of the levers travel, as the spurallow a free return travel to the spur-wheel C, the speed of which can be regulated or its stoppage effected at any desired moment by manipulating the hand-wheel 0.

Fig. 13 is another form of my invention which I think it advisable to show, in which D is an upright shaft on which is mounted a spur-wheel C, which is also provided with crown ratchet-teeth (7 on its upper side, with which the screw-pinion A engages in the manner shown. This said pinion A is carried on a spindle L, on which is formed the skewtoothed pinion B, which gears with the wheel Cand in action rotates the pinion A, which follows up any movement of the wheel C in the direction of the arrow Z and acts as a rotating pawl to prevent any back movement of the wheel with which it gears. The shaft D and spindle L can be mounted in bearings in the position shown and fixed as the occasion may require. The teeth and the spaces between them on the skew-toothed pinion B and spur-wheel C are proportioned similar to those described in Fig. 1.

Fig. 14 illustrates a form of my invention which can be utilized as a safety catch-gear for cranework and the like. Here D is the main axle, O is a spur-wheel made fast on it, and C a skew-tooth catch-wheel made solid with the spur-wheel C or firmly secured to it. E is a loop-frame which forms a carrier for a spindle Q, which bears the combined beveled wheel R and spur-pinion S in the manner shown in Fig. 15, where the loop-frame E is shown in cross-section. The spindle Q is possessed of a square enlargement 28, Fig. 15, which is bored through at right angles to the spindle to form a bearing for one end of the shaft L, which carries the beveled pinion W and is fitted to work in the position shown by dotted lines 29. The other end of the shaft L, which bears the screw catch-pinion A, is provided with a semiglobular socket, which takes a spherical roller 30, which bears against the frame E in an elongated recess (shown by dotted lines 31) and forms a movable point of resistance to the shaft L and its attachments. Encircling the end of said shaft outside the socket and roller 30 is a collar, which forms one end of a connecting-rod T, which passes up through the frame E, the upper end of it taking an eccentric 32, which is fitted on the end of a bar U, which is fitted to work in bearings formed on the frame E and shown at points 33 and 34. A handle V is formed on the outer end of this bar to operate it. The bored lug 35, made on the frame E, is provided for fixing it and holding it to its work. The gearing of the wheels C, S, R, and W when in work is as follows: The pinion S, Fig. 15, gears with the spurwheel C, having a close-fitting but easy-working travel. The beveled wheel R and the beveled pinion WV, which have spaces between their teeth by preference twice as wide as the teeth are thick, are geared to drive off one side of their teeth only during the time the screw pinion A is in gear with the catchwheel C. The consequence is that when movement is given to the spur-wheel O in the direction of the arrow Z the pinion A is rotated in agreement with the movement of the catchwheel C and a smooth unrestricted motion obtained. Any backward motion, however, of the above-named parts is prevented by the pinion A, which cannot be rotated reversely when in gear on account of the formation of teeth and spaces on the beveled wheel and pinion R and W. When reverse movement of the mechanism is required, it is only nec essary to turn the bar U in its bearings, when the eccentric 32 will lift the connecting-rod T, and with it the catch-pinion A, clear of the gaps in the catch-wheel C, and the whole of the parts can travel backward. The screw teeth of the catch-pinion A during this action remain constantly over the gaps in the catchwheel C and can be instantaneously struck back in gear and an immediate stop to the back movement effected.

It will be readily understood that the above and previous described forms of my invention represent but a small proportion of the different ways in which it can be adapted to the many classes of machinery to which such a mechanism is a necessary adjunct. Therefore I reserve the right to such further variations and modifications as properly fall within the scope of my invention, which must be regarded rather in the character of an auxiliary equipment to machinery in which such a gear is a necessary constituent part than as an entire machine in itself, and as such the extent of its applicability cannot be fully demonstrated by the few examples herein described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings; but I consider what I have described and shown sufficient to explain the nature and purpose of my invention, which is essentially a substitute for ratchet-and-pawl mechanism possessing the important advantages of certain and instantaneous action, which is obtained by the employment of the rotary slip and catch wheel A A, geared to operate with a straight, curved, or circular rack or ratch, assisted by the worm B B or its equivalent in the manner herein specified in lieu of the ordinary pawl.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. In catch and escapement-gear, or the like, a rotating catch, formed of a metal pinion provided with a worm, on its periphery, a shaft, on which it is fitted, mounted revolubly in bearings, a contrivance providing the said bearings, a rack, the catch and rack being geared worm-and-wheel fashion, the catch adapted (when not rotated) to deliver movement, or act as a detent to the rack, and when rotated allowing travel to the same, means to insure rotation of said catch in harmony with required movement of the rack, all combined to operate substantially as set forth.

2. A rotating catch, consisting of a metal pinion provided with a Worm on its periphery, combined with a second Worm or spiral groove, of similar pitch but smaller diameter, a shaft, on which it is fitted, and mounted therewith revolubly in bearings, an oscillating lever providing said bearings, )ivotally connected to a second shaft, the second shaft, mounted in a suitable bearing at right angles to the axis of the rotating catch, a skew-toothed wheel or circular rack, mounted on the second shaft, with which the rotating catch and worm are geared worm-and-w heel fashion, the said catch serving to compel movement of the circular rack when the rocking lever is moved in one direction, and the worm combined With it serving to produce rotative escape for the catch in the other direction, whereby the rack is free to continue the movement delivered to it by the catch after the propelling action of the latter has ceased, and the rocking lever to effect its return movement and repeat its previous action, means to prevent any return movement of the rack, during return action of the rocking lever, substantially as described.

3. 1n catch and eseapement-gear, or the like, a rotating catch, consisting of a metal pinion provided with a worm on its periphery, a shaft bearingasecond worm, on which the said catch is fitted, and mounted therewith revolubly in bearings, a bracket providing said bearings, and also a bearing to carry a second shaft at right angles to the axis of the catch and worm, the second shaft journaled in said bearing, a

skew-tooth wheel or circular rack secured thereon, with which the rotating catch engages worm-and-wheel fashion, and serves when stationary in its bearings, to prevent rotative movement of said rack, means to effect rotation of said catch, whereby the release of the rack is effected and its travel permitted, substantially as set forth.

4:. In catch and escapement-gear, or the like, a rotating catch, consisting of a metal pinion, provided with a worm on its periphery, a shaft on which a second worm is formed, and on which the rotating catch is splined, so that it can move longitudinally on it, and will turn with it, the worm on the said shaft, a bracket providing bearings for said shaft, which is mounted revolubly therein, a second shaft, for which said bracket also provides a bearing, in which the said shaft is journaled at right angles to the axis of the shaft carrying the rotating catch, a skew-toothed wheel or circular rack, mounted on second shaft, and having rotative travel therewith, and geared worm-andwheel fashion with the rotating catch and second worm, means to effect longitudinal movement of the first-mentioned shaft, and thereby put the second worm in or out of operative relation with circular rack, whereby the rotating catch can be caused to prevent, or permit, rotative travel of said rack, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in presence of two subscribing Witnesses, this 4th day of February, 1903.

JAMES BETTIE.

Witnesses:

WALTER J. SKERTEN, G. F, TARREN. 

